phone call

[jiang]

Dear teachers,
When I stared learning English I was taught the way to make a phone was like this:

A: Hello, is this Nancy speaking? (or: Who is speaking?)
B: Yes. ( or: This is Nancy speaking.)

However, I read a textbook which read:

A: Hello.
B: Hello. Is that Nancy?
A: Yes. Hi Mary.

Is the one in the textbook correct? I mean can I say " Is that ...." in a phone call?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

[Tdol]

Yes, you can. I'd say that 'that' is more common nowadays, at least in BrE. We use 'this' when we identify ourselves, though.

[Casiopea]

Additionally,

A: Hello, is this Nancy? (re: Nancy's voice I hear)
A: Hello, is that Nancy? (re: Nancy the person) physical distance

EX: Nancy is here. Nancy is (over) there.
EX: Nancy is this person here; Nancy is that person (over) there.

Note also,

A: Is this/that Nancy?
B: Yes. This is she/me. (formal/informal).

[borat]

just an observation, I suppose it is not really polite, but many people calling my house would just simply say the name of who they wanted with the pitch of a question even if it was obvious I wasn't that person. i did it sometimes too.

Me: "Hello?"
Them: "Joe?" (I sound nothing like Joe)
Me: "Just a moment."
I go hand Joe the phone.

[jiang]

Dear todl,

Thank you very much for your reply. Now I see.

Jiang

Originally Posted by tdol

Yes, you can. I'd say that 'that' is more common nowadays, at least in BrE. We use 'this' when we identify ourselves, though.

[jiang]

Dear Cas,

Thank you very much for your additional explanation. Now I see.

Jiang

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Additionally,

A: Hello, is this Nancy? (re: Nancy's voice I hear)
A: Hello, is that Nancy? (re: Nancy the person) physical distance

EX: Nancy is here. Nancy is (over) there.
EX: Nancy is this person here; Nancy is that person (over) there.

Note also,

A: Is this/that Nancy?
B: Yes. This is she/me. (formal/informal).

[jiang]

Dear borat,

Thank you very much for your explanation. If it doesn't bother much could you please tell me which way is the polite way?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

Originally Posted by borat

just an observation, I suppose it is not really polite, but many people calling my house would just simply say the name of who they wanted with the pitch of a question even if it was obvious I wasn't that person. i did it sometimes too.

Me: "Hello?"
Them: "Joe?" (I sound nothing like Joe)
Me: "Just a moment."
I go hand Joe the phone.

[Tdol]

In that case, I'd use something like 'Could I speak to Joe, please?'

[jiang]

Dear tdol,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.

Jiang

Originally Posted by tdol

In that case, I'd use something like 'Could I speak to Joe, please?'

[Tdol]